The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Wayne County Circuit Court. It alleges Briggs was fired as retaliation after he filed a whistle-blower report with the school detailing a relationship Gaither was having with assistant coach Derek Thomas.

University of Detroit spokesman Gary Lichtman says the school had not received a copy of the lawsuit as of Friday afternoon and it doesn't comment on personnel issues.

Gaither and Thomas, both of whom could not be reached for comment Friday, had their resignations announced by the school on Oct. 31, 2012 — a day before Briggs claims he was fired.